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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffA large ovarian cyst can cause abdominal discomfort. If a large cyst presses on your bladder, you may feel the need to urinate more frequently because bladder capacity is reduced.
Some women develop less common types of cysts that may not produce symptoms, but that your doctor may find during a pelvic examination. Cystic ovarian masses that develop after menopause may be cancerous (malignant). These factors make regular pelvic examinations important.
The following types of cysts are much less common than functional cysts:
- Dermoid cysts. These cysts may contain tissue such as hair, skin or teeth because they form from cells that produce human eggs. They are rarely cancerous, but they can become large, causing the ovary to move out of its usual position in the pelvis. This increases the chance of painful twisting of your ovary, called ovarian torsion.
- Endometriomas. These cysts develop as a result of endometriosis, a condition in which uterine cells grow outside your uterus. Some of that tissue may attach to your ovary and form a growth.
- Cystadenomas. These cysts develop from ovarian tissue and may be filled with a watery liquid or a mucous material. They can become large — 12 inches or more in diameter — and lead to ovarian torsion.
- Ovarian cysts. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp075.cfm. Accessed May 26, 2009.
- Katz VL. Benign gynecologic lesions: Vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus, oviduct, ovary. In: Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/140024377-2/0/1524/120.html?tocnode=53759294&fromURL=120.html. Accessed May 26, 2009.
- Hoffman BL. Pelvic mass. In: Schorge JO, et al. Williams Gynecology. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=3153525. Accessed May 26, 2009.
- Boyle KJ, et al. Benign gynecologic conditions. Surgical Clinics of North America. 2008;88:245.
- Ovarian cysts: Frequently asked questions. The National Women's Health Information Center. www.womenshealth.gov/FAQ/ovarian-cysts.cfm. Accessed May 22, 2009.
